Lost Iskari Empire
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Nearly 3,200 years ago, the Continent of Ikharos was home to the Iskari Empire; one of the most culturally advanced, wealthiest, and powerful civilizations ever seen on the world of Oris.


At its peak, the vast Iskari Empire controlled almost 70 percent of Ikharos, with dominion over millions of subjects. The Empire built many magnificent cities, fantastic monuments, and held incalculable wealth. The Empire was always ruled by either an Emperor or Empress, but these were largely symbolic figures.

The real power was held by seven powerful wizards called "Runelords." These seven wizards each controlled one of the Imperial Districts, and each commanded vast armies of enslaved Rune-Giants to enforce their will.

The symbol of the Empire was the Sihedron, and its subjects spoke an ancient language called Iskamaic, which is now considered a dead language. After being in decline for centuries because of internal strife and many civil wars, the Iskari Empire was finally destroyed in the year 1173/3, when a meteor storm decimated the entire Continent.

This natural disaster came to be known as "Skyfall," and even though its impending doom was foretold by a mysterious wizard named Arcelor, the event still annihilated most of the Iskari population and left the entire continent in ruins.

Almost all the citizens of the Empire were lost in that catastrophe, but not all. The last imperial ruler was Empress Azonia, who ruled from the imperial capitol of Khorvis. Her husband; Prince Ilvanos, a famous Iskari explorer, had previously sailed across the Wyn Myr and discovered the continent of Corwyn.

While there, he met a mysterious wizard named Arcelor, who warned him about the coming disaster, which he called the "Doom of Iskandar."

Ilvanos then returned to Ikharos, and believing Arcelor's warning, told his young son Ilnavel. Together, Ilvanos and Ilnavel built a fleet of over 1,000 ships and Ilnavel set off across the Wyn Myr to find a new home on Corwyn shortly before the events of Skyfall.

History of the Empire


The Iskari Empire was founded more than 7,000 years ago by Emperor Il-Khazar Caridan, after he conquered and united seven ancient Kingdoms. At its height, his Empire stretched thousands of miles across the Continent. The seven subjugated nations of Corado, Ezdar, Fornaven, Kosidar, Malverne, Rendova, and Terovan all later became Imperial Districts, whose governors answered directly to the Alabaster Throne at Khorvis.

As the Empire grew beyond the bounds of Il-Khazar's ability to control, he appointed seven powerful wizards to administer the Imperial Districts. These seven imperial governors were called "Runelords," and each one controlled a dozen imperial provinces. This was to prove a fateful decision. Eventually, these seven power-hungry wizards desired to secure power for themselves, and waited for an opportunity to escape servitude from under the Emperor.

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In the year 452 of First Age of the Empire, Emperor Il-Khazar, in advanced age after ruling the Iskari Empire for more than 400 years, was destroyed, along with most of the Imperial Palace, in a mysterious
With the death of Emperor Il-Khazar, the Runelords seized the opportunity and quickly subjugated those loyal to him, including his only son; Prince Il-Khezet, who became nothing more than a "Puppet Emperor."

Over the years, the seven Runelords grew ever more hungry for power. They began to plot and scheme against each other to become the undisputed ruler of the Iskari Empire.
For the remaining millennia of its existence, the Iskari Empire was torn with constant civil wars as various Runelords warred with one another. Clashes between great armies of Rune-Giants and Sinspawn occurred regularly.

Over the centuries, the Iskari Empire was also beset with multiple wars with the neighboring realms of Kalinor and Jandelay. These largely fruitless wars were a terrible drain on imperial resources.

The Runelords of the Iskari Empire


Legend has it; the Runelords forged alliances with dragons and enslaved giants by using secrets of rune and glyph magic stolen from the aboleth in their efforts to increase their own power. With their enslaved giants, the wizards of The Iskari Empire built massive tombs, enormous magical constructs, and staggering monuments that still survive today.

Each of the seven rulers specialized in a single school of rune magic and possessed a mighty weapon which not only served them in battle, but also became a symbol of their rule. The final seven Runelords and their respective strongholds were:

  • Krune: The Runelord of Sloth; who ruled the District of Ezdar from its capital of Orlakan.
  • Zuthan: The Runelord of Gluttony; who ruled the District of Corado from its capital of Ghatash.

The Runelords' Slumber


In the year 1173 of the Third Age, nearly 3,200 years ago, the Iskari Empire collapsed. The reason for this collapse was Skyfall; a cataclysmic event that destroyed most of the continent of Ikharos. Sadly, a four-thousand year old empire was utterly destroyed in a matter of hours.

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